Technical Fiat ducato 2.8JTD steering noise help

[David87]

Hi all
I have a 2006 fiat ducato motorhome 2.8JTD

So the high pressure power steering pipe had rubbed through on the body and split and lost all steering fluid, and then there was a winning noise which I thought was the power steering pump, so I replaced the pump and the noise was still there but then found out it was the small plastic idler pulley wheel so replaced that and noise was gone but now there is a horrible noise on only left turn when dry steering and when driving, sounds like a dry grinding vibration noise, hard to explain a noise but only does it on left not right turn, doesn’t do it for the first few turns when cold. The power steering sounds a bit noisier than normal aswell when steering from stand still, I know you shouldn’t dry steer.
It doesn’t make the grinding noise when the front end is jacked up of the ground.

I’ve tried 2 different pumps, left strut top mount, bottom ball joint and a second hand steering rack and noise it still there.

Has anyone come across this before, I’m stumped, any help would really be appreciated

 

[bugsymike]

Hi all
I have a 2006 fiat ducato motorhome 2.8JTD

So the high pressure power steering pipe had rubbed through on the body and split and lost all steering fluid, and then there was a winning noise which I thought was the power steering pump, so I replaced the pump and the noise was still there but then found out it was the small plastic idler pulley wheel so replaced that and noise was gone but now there is a horrible noise on only left turn when dry steering and when driving, sounds like a dry grinding vibration noise, hard to explain a noise but only does it on left not right turn, doesn’t do it for the first few turns when cold. The power steering sounds a bit noisier than normal aswell when steering from stand still, I know you shouldn’t dry steer.
It doesn’t make the grinding noise when the front end is jacked up of the ground.

I’ve tried 2 different pumps, left strut top mount, bottom ball joint and a second hand steering rack and noise it still there.

Has anyone come across this before, I’m stumped, any help would really be appreciated

As you say if driven with low pas fluid it can damage the pas pump, although usually it would need to be driven for a distance, so if you stopped within a mile it shouldn't have damaged the pump.
Re pulley or other noise I usually use a long screwdriver or similar as a stethoscope to locate the source of the noise.
Incidentally this may be wrong but I can only find one photo of the serpentine belt for the 2.8 JTD in my manual, it doesn't show a pulley driven pas pump. This would tie in with my experiences on many Sofim 2.8 engines mostly but not exclusively in Iveco Daily's where they use the cam belt driven PAS drive unit on the side of the engine which also powers the diesel high pressure/injector pump and the brake vacuum unit etc.
Not quite sure what you mean by "when dry steering and when driving, sounds like a dry grinding vibration noise", do you mean free wheeling with engine switched off in neutral?
Re power steering more noisy, usually it goes quieter after the tiny air bubbles are removed from the system, this is easier if full instructions are followed when first installing the pump to minimise the chance of air bubbles.
If the other noise is only on left turn have you checked the tyres are not rubbing against suspension/anti roll bars/ mud flaps etc. as I have seen that on many occasions.
Sorry about photo quality.